The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-03-18

That was one of the defects Of Cola's
character. He never would listen 70 |
reason on any point where his affec- |
tions were concerned. Il was the |
same thing about his friendship for |
that unlucky Lieutenant Ivan Nikal-
aie6. who was afterwards hanged Tor |
completely In Nihilist conspiracy.
always said 10 him: Cola. my hoy.
you should make friends where they
can do you some good. not amongst
people that can only be an injury TO
YOU" But nothing would induce him
70 give up bis friend till NikalaiefF was
actually arrested. And the night fol-
lowing the execution. Cola positively
refused to act. and we had TO make an
apology for him on the ground Of sud-
den indisposition. though by 50 doing
we brought suspicion upon Us all. l
do not think we were ever free, after
that, from the surveillance Of the police.
as long as we remained in Russia.
However, 1.-THE Martyrs" continued
TO draw tremendous houses. some peo-
pie coming TO see II as often as five or
six times. And there was one person l
verify believe never missed a single
representation. Night after night one
Of the upper prosccnium boxes was ten
anted by the same figure. always half
hidden behind the box-curtain. and
with little discernible save an ermine
mantle, pair Of great eyes always
fixed upon the stage, and shining
cloud Of floating golden hair. This
constant spectator was, rs had been
told. the Princess Sophia Orlanoff,
great heircss and great lady, but ter
ribly crippled and dcformed. Her at
PENDANTS used to carry her in and out
Of her box at the different theatcrs, her
favoritc recreations being music and
the drama.
She was still quite young twenty
five or thercabouts-I learned. and she
inhabited one wing Of the great Orlan-
of palace, under the guardianship Of
her uncle. Prince Michael. Cola
Barctti took quite an interest in this
unfailing patroncss Of our thcatcr,
having soft heart for any thing that
was weak and suffering; and used to
think sometimes that our splendid
Claudius had something to do with her
unflagging interest in our perform
anccs. At all events she used to APP
plaud his best points with all fcrvor
possible to pair Of small and slender
white hands. and when he was on the
stage her opera-glass seldom left her
eyes. He got into the way, at last, Of
playing to her. in measure, SO apprc-
ciative was her applause and 50 earnest
her attention. He used 70 say. for in
stance: 1.-The Princess must have been
pleased tonight with my acting in the
last scenes" or, ~ did not recitc the
Hymn TO Hymer as well as usual this
evening. for the Princess failed to APP
plaud it." She became thus. as il
were. the barometer Of this talent.
think the time has now come for
giving the true reason for our failure
to give Hamlet in ST. Petersburg as
we had promised. on the withdrawal
Of "The Martyrs" with Cola Baretti
As the melancholy Dane. 1t Is just as
well that the public should learn that
neither i nor the director were in any
way to blame for disappointing the
subscribers, who were naturally
anxious to see Barctti in a more prom
incnt part than that Of Claudius. And,
| indeed. only learned the whole story
from him the other day, when I went
| to visit him in Milan.
This is what hc told me:
One gloomy afternoon, shortly after
! we had given up playing The
Martyrs" he found waiting COR him at
the stage-door, at the close Of the first
rehearsal Of Hamlet servant-girl.
who tut into his hands sealed note.
1t contained these few words only,
without signature or address:
| "As you value your life. and II you desire 70
soothe the last moments Of dying woman, fol-
l low the bearer OF this letter. For the love Of
| Heaven come"
| Cola tried to question the girl. but
could get no answer from her. and, in
fact, she seemed incapable Of under
standing either French or Italian.
Many men would have hesitatcd before
deciding to obey so mysterious a sum-
mons, but Cola was As brave as lion,
besides which there was something in
the tone Of the few words Of the cpistle
that bore the ring Of sincerity. So he
followed his guide through the gather
| inc Oloom Of the evening till they stood